Royalty, Uncorrupted
Aleryn is the dominant force in the
Akathian realm, controlling most all roads that lead directly in and out of its borders. Political decisions for the realm are made by the Alerean Adarizhan, the government that rules the land. In conjunction with a number of smaller councils that filter the autocrat, the Rizhan's decisions are worked into a form that eventually becomes reality.
Some decisions can be made as an absolute, though most must pass through a council known as the Consortium Aegis. As the Rizhan makes decisions while they hold court, whether for petitions or otherwise, they will do so with the audience of the Consortium Aegis. Once a decision is made, a vote takes place between these six. If they tie, the Rizhan's choice is finalized. If they are overruled by a four-to-two or more, the Rizhan must either make a new decision that is more agreeable, or default to the council's advisory.
Kathira Ulmenvos VII began her reign at age 23, and ended her reign of 40 years having accomplished much. She reestablished trade connections with
Fjorlosia, and grew the strongest Alerean army
Virosia had seen in some time.
"The Rizhan is Aleryn. Their position, a menifestation of the wisdom of her people, distilled down to an immenant body of decisive action, honed by the Consortium Aegis into a weapon of political prowess." -Ankarimin Stresdolor
Power Transfers
One comes to be Rizhan through the last Rizhan, and so power is transfered at the whim of not only Rizhan, but of the Consortium Aegis as well. Traditionally, however, it is rarely seen that a Rizhan will pass power to another. When this happens, it is typically at the behest of those around them, though sometimes it is by force, as was the case with Sephina Relus III.
The power transference is known well before the death or otherwise loss of the current Rizhan, and is typically decided soon after the coronation of a given Rizhan. A next-of-kin decision is made in private council, and generally revealed within the following weeks. Often this is final, though due to inter-familial disputes, this decision can change, sometimes shortly before a Rizhan passes.
There are no age restrictions, and the youngest a Rizhan has ever been at acceptance was 11 with Sozhan Relus I in 1296 A.C.R., though he was assassinated in 1300 A.C.R. at age 15. This makes him both the youngest to live, and the youngest die while reigning.
The Ulmenvos Dynasty
The Ulmenvos reign lasted from 1092 through 1168 A.C.R., spanning only three individuals, but marking themselves distinctly in Akathian history. In their time, the Rebellion of the Comet saw Drostollor's uprising and subsequent fall at the hands of the Ulmenvos family.
They also oversaw the construction of societal structures that would secure the Drostollorian people as Akathian, and though many still consider their policies just, many more see them as dated and oppressive. These policies include high terrifs of Drostollorian goods through Aleryn, persistent Rizhand Ward presence, and cultural assimilation that must constantly be thwarted by the Drostollorians.
Kathira VII oversaw and directly battled in the Rebellion of the Comet, seeing one of the most greusome battles in Akathian history firsthand. This earned her great respect, and officially began her tyranny over the north. While she displayed strength, her son and heir barely maintained what she had put in place, alleviating much of the distaste between the two, though only for a time. Drostollor needed to make a statement, to stop Alerean involvement in their country once and for all.
After Ketheren II had sceded his rule, war was declared. With Ketheren III as Rizhan, Drostollor marched south. Not but four years into his Reign, Ketheren III was slain in his home. Drostollorian forces, however, were much more disorganized than that of Aleryn, and a counterattack was quickly underway. In addition, and to the fortune of Aleryn, a dwarven regiment had been quartered in Aleryn, which was more than willing to help Drostollor's oppressors. Beneficial trade of Etraline was made possible only by Aleryn's occupation of Crater, of course.
Drostollor was once again faught back to their mountain-homes, where they would remain defeated, deciding that war was not a solution to the forces of Aleryn, and what resources they have beyond themselves.
The Relus Dynasty
The Relus Dynasty (1168 - 1300 A.C.R.) began with the appointment of Rizhane Sephine Relus I in 1168 A.C.R. after the quick demise of Rizhan Ketheran Ulmenvos III. Sephine ruled with a much softer touch on Drostollor than her predecessors, but took their cultural assimilation much more seriously. Sephine's foreign policy was generally much more manipulative than almost any other Rizhan(e) before her, with many interwoven deals that would result in an underhanded victory for Aleryn at the end of things. This included the orchestration of what became known as the Shaelaraen Deceit, a period of time where over three decades, Sephine assisted in the movement of mythral shards from the orchards of Shaelarin to dwarven lands, for large sums of gold to be exchanged between Fjorlosians and the Shaelarae just east of the Akathian border. Akathia made great profits in this deal.
The Zhayce Dynasty
The most recent dynasty, the Zhayce Dynaster (1300 - Present A.C.R.) began with the appointment of Rizhan Marqien Zhayce after Rizhan Sozhan Relus died in a mythraleviatha hunt. Despite many family members living, Sozhan Relus decided on a dear friend, seeing his family as far too corrupt to pass the position on to. He did this to the surprise of Marqien, but the decision is seen as one of the greatest in Aleryn's recent history. Marqien ruled for seventy-two years, untill the age of ninety-six when he at last passed away, having achieved a stable realm, though that unity would not last.
Marqien established Aleryn and Drostollor as companions rather than the oppressive reign that previous rulers had allowed for, and this has caused issues with Drostollor's internal unity as his heirs have not maintained the same level of peace or unity. Some see the fact that his heirs haven't established a total Akathian unity as a worse wound to Drostollor than if he had simply left them to rebel as a separate nation, as now the insurrection within Drostollor borders stands to stop their rebellions with as much if not more sway than Aleryn itself.
Rizhane Medalia Zhayce VI, the current sovereign, has made attempts as solidifying this unity in their northern region, with little headway. Incentives within Aleryn to keep things broken fight her at every turn. War is often a profitable business, and border disputes that would be halted by such a peace brokerage would cease. Alerean farms, could extend further north, and more of the resource rich mines of the north would be available for the southern country's exploitation.
